Blocking ghrelin could be key to alcohol addiction

It turns out that ghrelin signaling may play a much bigger role than just encouraging overeating. New research from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden suggests that blocking ghrelin signals may also help control alcohol addiction.

A team of scientists including Elisabet Jerlhag, Ph.D., concluded that administering ghrelin to structures of the brain associated with reward spurred an increase in alcohol consumption in an animal study. Administering a ghrelin receptor antagonist, though, reduced the amount of alcohol they consumed.

"Ghrelin's action in the brain may be of importance for several addictions, including chemical drugs such as alcohol and even food," said Professor Suzanne Dickson. The researchers used AEterna Zentaris' ghrelin receptor antagonist compound, AEZS-123 (JMV2959) in the study.

"The finding that alcohol intake can be suppressed by administration of a GHS-R1A antagonist implies that orally bioavailable, brain penetrant GHS-R1A antagonists may have therapeutic potential in alcohol use disorders," the scientists report. "Our studies also raise important questions regarding the physiological role of ghrelin, a gut-brain signal, influencing not only hunger but clearly also having a broader role in the search for rewarding substances such as alcohol."

Researchers have been focused on ghrelin as a regulator of appetite for years. And new research has highlighted ghrelin's role in the reward and pleasure centers of the brain.

- read the report from Moden Medicine
- check out the release from AEterna Zentaris
- here's the recent report in the Washington Post regarding overeating

Related Articles:
Researchers find new pathway for addiction therapy
Scientists identify addiction drug therapy target